Thailand U23 does not want to be eliminated early in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship - Photo: FAT
Pressure is mounting on the Thai U23 team as they remain without a point after their comeback defeat against Australia. The difficulties are compounded by the absence of key defender Phon Ek Jensen due to a costly red card.
Thailand U23 team is backed into a corner.
The "War Elephants" needed a win, or at least a draw, to keep their hopes alive, but pushing their formation high up the pitch against a pragmatic Iraq was a double-edged sword.
On the other side of the battlefield, although the Iraqi U23 team earned one point after a goalless draw with the Chinese U23 team, their performance was still not entirely convincing.
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The lack of finishing ability is a problem that coach Emad Mohammed needs to solve immediately. Iraq plays disciplined, solid defense but lacks creativity in the final third of the pitch.
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Thailand U23 possesses a strong desire and a dynamic playing style, but Iraq has the edge in terms of resilience and ability to withstand pressure. The head-to-head history between the two teams in the last 5 matches is quite balanced (Thailand U23 won 1, Iraq U23 won 2, and there were 2 draws).
Will Thailand U23 spring a surprise?
"The War Elephants" will certainly continue to opt for a style of play focused on ball control and short passes. Under the guidance of coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul, they have shown themselves to be a technically gifted team, capable of escaping pressing in the midfield based on the versatility of their midfielders.
In their opening match against U23 Australia, despite a 1-2 defeat, Thailand had moments of equal play, even taking the lead thanks to sharp counter-attacks. However, the inherent weakness of Thai youth football remains the issue of physical stature and one-on-one tackling ability. This is the "Achilles' heel" that U23 Iraq will certainly exploit to the fullest.
The Gulf team possesses excellent physical fitness, an aggressive playing style, and is not afraid of physical contact. They often organize mid-range pressing, increasing the tempo of the game to surround and disrupt the opponent's build-up play from their own half.
Aerial duels and set pieces are also powerful weapons for coach Emad Mohammed's team.
It wouldn't be surprising if the first half proceeded at a moderate pace, with both teams playing cautiously to avoid early mistakes. However, as time went on, the match would be decided by moments of individual brilliance or a well-executed set piece. Thailand U23 needed at least one point to keep their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tran-cau-sinh-tu-cua-u23-thai-lan-20260110222048404.htm
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